GROUPSPLANKINGCOMMEMORATION

Local and area organizations will commemorate the birthday of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a three-day celebration beginning next Saturday.

Dr. King's son, Martin Luther King III, will deliver the keynote address at a banquet and lecture the same day.

The banquet and lecture featuring King will be held in the Kansas Union Ballroom at KU. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and the lecture will follow at 8 p.m.

Ecumenical Fellowship Inc., Lawrence public schools, Kansas University, the City of Lawrence and Douglas County will participate in the celebration.

The theme of the event is "Bringing the Dream into Reality."

The younger King has made turning his father's dream into reality a primary activity in his life. His work with a presidential delegation touring Africa helped bring about the Africa Initiative, an organization committed to finding ways to end starvation in Africa.

He also hs served as an at-large representative to the Fulton County, (Ga.) Commission.

While with the commission, he has drafted legislation creating the Contract Compliance-Equal Employment Opportunity Department. The goal of the department is to regulate minority business participation in county contracts and to ensure equal employment opportunities for all county employess.

On Sunday, several gospel choirs and musical groups from the Lawrence area will perform at Central Junior High School at 14th and Massachusetts streets. The program will feature groups such as the KU Inspirational Gospel Choir and a community children's choir.

Admission to the concert, which begins at 6 p.m., is free.

The national holiday recognizing the elder King is Jan. 15. The Ecumenical Fellowship will hold a service with the Rev. James B. Boyer of Manhattan as the keynote speaker.

The service wil take place at noon at the First R.M. Baptist Church, 1646 Vt.

For more information contact Rev. Charles Kenneybrew or Rev. William Dulin, both in Lawrence.